Validation of the western ontario rotator cuff index in patients with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: A study protocol

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is described as being a successful procedure. These results are often derived from clinical general shoulder examinations, which are then classified as 'excellent', 'good', 'fair' or 'poor'. However, the cut-off points for these classifications vary and sometimes modified scores are used.</p> <p>Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is performed to improve quality of life. Therefore, disease specific health-related quality of life patient-administered questionnaires are needed. The WORC is a quality of life questionnaire designed for patients with disorders of the rotator cuff. The score is validated for rotator cuff disease, but not for rotator cuff repair specifically.</p> <p>The aim of this study is to investigate reliability, validity and responsiveness of WORC in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>An approved translation of the WORC into Dutch is used. In this prospective study three groups of patients are used: 1. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair; 2. Disorders of the rotator cuff without rupture; 3. Shoulder instability.</p> <p>The WORC, SF-36 and the Constant Score are obtained twice before therapy is started to measure reliability and validity. Responsiveness is tested by obtaining the same tests after therapy.</p

‘New and important careers’: how women excelled at the BBC, 1923–1939

From its beginnings in 1923, the BBC employed a sizeable female workforce. The majority were in support roles as typists, secretaries and clerks but, during the 1920s and 1930s, a significant number held important posts. As a modern industry, the BBC took a largely progressive approach towards the ‘career women’ on its staff, many of whom were in jobs that were developed specifically for the new medium of broadcasting. Women worked as drama producers, advertising representatives and Children’s Hour Organisers. They were talent spotters, press officers and documentary makers. Three women attained Director status while others held significant administrative positions. This article considers in what ways it was the modernity and novelty of broadcasting, combined with changing employment possibilities and attitudes towards women evident after the First World War, that combined to create the conditions in which they could excel

Variation in salivary cortisol responses in yearling Thoroughbred racehorses during their first year of training

Thoroughbred horses are bred for competitive racing and undergo intense training regimes. The maintenance of physical soundness and desirable behavioural characteristics are critical to the longevity of a racing career. Horses intended for Flat racing generally enter training as yearlings and undergo introductory training prior to exercise conditioning for racing. This period requires rapid adjustment to a novel environment. As a prey animal, a horse’s ‘fight-or-flight’ response is highly adapted, in which a well-understood component of this response, the hypothalamic-pituitary-axis, is activated in response to a stress stimulus, releasing cortisol. In the Thoroughbred, a significant difference in salivary cortisol concentrations between pre- and post-first time ridden (i.e., first backing) by a jockey have previously been identified. Here, to test the hypothesis that salivary cortisol concentrations may be used to objectively detect individual variations in the acute physiological stress response we investigate individual variation in cortisol response to training milestones. Saliva samples were collected from a cohort of n = 96 yearling Flat racehorses, at the same training yard, across three timepoints at rest: before entering the training yard (n = 66), within three days of entry to the training yard (n = 67) and following 2–3 weeks in the training yard (n = 50). Salivary cortisol concentration was measured using an ELISA. There was no significant difference in cortisol concentration (ANOVA, P > 0.05) across the samples collected at timepoints at rest. Samples were also collected before and 30 minutes after exposure to three novel training events: first time long-reined (n = 6), first time backed by a jockey (n = 34), and first time ridden on the gallops (n = 10). Mean salivary cortisol concentration after all three novel training events was significantly higher than prior to the training event (Paired t-test, P <0.005). The ranges of post-event salivary cortisol concentration across all timepoints suggest individual variation in the measured stress response, reflecting individual differences in stress response to the early training environment. This measure may be used as an objective assessment of the stress response of Thoroughbred racehorses during training

Variation in salivary cortisol responses in yearling Thoroughbred racehorses during their first year of training.

Thoroughbred horses are bred for competitive racing and undergo intense training regimes. The maintenance of physical soundness and desirable behavioural characteristics are critical to the longevity of a racing career. Horses intended for Flat racing generally enter training as yearlings and undergo introductory training prior to exercise conditioning for racing. This period requires rapid adjustment to a novel environment. As a prey animal, a horse's 'fight-or-flight' response is highly adapted, in which a well-understood component of this response, the hypothalamic-pituitary-axis, is activated in response to a stress stimulus, releasing cortisol. In the Thoroughbred, a significant difference in salivary cortisol concentrations between pre- and post-first time ridden (i.e., first backing) by a jockey have previously been identified. Here, to test the hypothesis that salivary cortisol concentrations may be used to objectively detect individual variations in the acute physiological stress response we investigate individual variation in cortisol response to training milestones. Saliva samples were collected from a cohort of n = 96 yearling Flat racehorses, at the same training yard, across three timepoints at rest: before entering the training yard (n = 66), within three days of entry to the training yard (n = 67) and following 2-3 weeks in the training yard (n = 50). Salivary cortisol concentration was measured using an ELISA. There was no significant difference in cortisol concentration (ANOVA, P > 0.05) across the samples collected at timepoints at rest. Samples were also collected before and 30 minutes after exposure to three novel training events: first time long-reined (n = 6), first time backed by a jockey (n = 34), and first time ridden on the gallops (n = 10). Mean salivary cortisol concentration after all three novel training events was significantly higher than prior to the training event (Paired t-test, P <0.005). The ranges of post-event salivary cortisol concentration across all timepoints suggest individual variation in the measured stress response, reflecting individual differences in stress response to the early training environment. This measure may be used as an objective assessment of the stress response of Thoroughbred racehorses during training